History

1808-1848 - Chardon, A New England Town

In 1808, representatives from the Ohio General Assembly chose an unpopulated wilderness on a hill for the county seat of justice. With several fledgling towns under consideration, "nearly everyman in Geauga County was thunderstruck," the editor of the Painesville Telegraph reminisced.

Land for the town plat was purchased for $400.00 from absentee owner and Boston entrepreneur Peter Chardon Brooks. By 1810, the wilderness on the hill had a name, Chardon (French for thistle). Other names considered included Brookfield, Brookville, Marshall, and Chardonia.

Chardon Square was a quintessential example of New England town planning with its focus on a central green or common surrounded by the most important community institutions, including the courthouse and town hall, churches, and schools. Early inns and stores as well as the homes of prominent residents also surrounded the green.

By 1848, a large columned courthouse (build 1824-1829) and a simple white clapboard Methodist Church (build ca. 1835) graced the north half of Main Street, attesting to the cultural importance of government and religion in a transplanted New England town. The Courthouse stood where Court Street and Lawyer's Title stand today. The Methodist Church was replaced by Memorial Hall (now the three story portion of the Courthouse Annex).

The New England commitment to education included making books available to the entire community, even one as tiny as Chardon with its population of 446 in 1840. On August 26, 1858, community members met in the Courthouse to organize a public library. County Recorder John French was chosen the first librarian and the books were kept in the Recorder's Office. The membership fee was one dollar per year or the donation of one good book.

1868 - The Great Fire

On July 24, 1868, a fire broke out on Chardon's Main Street. The fire destroyed the Courthouse and with it the library. Many county records were saved but the fate of the library books is not known.

While the 1868 fire was Chardon's most devastating, it was not the only blaze residents battled. In 1876 a factory on North Hambden and an extensive flour mill at Washington and Water Streets burned. As a result a fire department was organized on March 21, 1877.

1868-1870 - Rebuilding

Two days following the fire, the Geauga County Commissioners and the citizens of Chardon led by Mayor E.V. Canfield gathered in the Chardon Town Hall on East Park Street. They discussed rebuilding the Courthosue and Main Street, resolving to "work unitedly and make every personal sacrifice that a renewal of our general prosperity may require"

The Chardon Town Hall was built ten years after the town was incorporated. It stood on the site of the former High School, the current site of the Park Elementary playground just north of the Auditorium.

L.J. Randall spearheaded construction of the Randall Block (currently Antiques on the Square north to the I.O.O.F. hall, now Killeen Art Studio). The Chardon Building Company contracted with Herrick and Simmons of Cleveland to build the Union Block (currently Rickard's Bakery north to Court Street).

Today & Tomorrow

Today Chardon remains to many, a town rich in history & culture. Its public square is surrounded by government offices and quaint shops and many activities and events are still held there throughout the year.